Novel use of erythroid differentiation regulator 1 as an agent for treating cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel use of erythroid differentiation regulator 1 (Erdr1) as an agent for treating cancer. More particularly, it relates to an use of Erdr1 or an expression vector including a polynucleotide encoding the same for preventing and inhibiting cancer metastasis, an use of Erdr1 or an expression vector including a polynucleotide encoding the same for preventing and treating cancer, an use of an antibody specific for Erdr1 for diagnosing cancer, or a method for screening agents for regulating cancer metastasis or cancer cells migration. The Erdr1 is negatively regulated by IL-18 expression and it suppresses migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer or tumor cell by expression of HSP90 and generation of ROI. And an Erdr1 recombinant protein promotes NK-cell killing activity against cancer cell. Accordingly, the Erdr1 and an expression vector comprising polynucleotide encoding the same and recombinant protein suppress cancer metastasis and bring an effect on activation of immune cells, and therefore can be useful for preventing, treating and diagnosing cancer.

1 . A method for preventing or treating cancer, comprising administering an effective amount of an Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide or an expression vector comprising polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of leukemia, malignant melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, pancreatic cancer, gall bladder cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, testis cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, brain tumor, head or neck cancer, skin cancer, lymphoma and aplastic anemia. 
     
     
         6 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for screening agents for regulating cancer metastasis or cancer cell migration comprising:
 (a) contacting an Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide to a test agent in the presence of the test agent;   (b) selecting the test agent which changes Erdr1 activity by measuring Erdr1 activity; and   (c) testing whether the selected test agent regulates cancer metastasis or cancer cell migration.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of leukemia, malignant melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, pancreatic cancer, gall bladder cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, testis cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, brain tumor, head or neck cancer, skin cancer, lymphoma and aplastic anemia. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein preventing or treating cancer is mediated by apoptotic cell death or inhibition of cancer cell metastasis. 
     
     
         21 . A method for stimulating NK (natural killer) cell cytotoxicity, comprising contacting said NK cells with an Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide or an expression vector comprising polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         24 . A composition for diagnosing cancer, comprising an antibody specific for an Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of leukemia, malignant melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, pancreatic cancer, gall bladder cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, testis cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, brain tumor, head or neck cancer, skin cancer, lymphoma and aplastic anemia. 
     
     
         26 . A method for diagnosing cancer in a subject suspected of having cancer, comprising:
 (a) contacting the composition of  claim 24  with a biological sample from the subject suspected of having cancer;   (b) measuring and comparing a level of an antigen-antibody complex resulted from the binding between the antibody and the Erdr1 (erythroid differentiation regulator 1) polypeptide in the contacted biological sample and a control sample; and   (c) determining the presence of cancer when the level of antigen-antibody complex in the biological sample is decreased as compared to the level in the control sample.